The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-17
HOW IT Gaze IgODg.
The story OF the signing Of the Con.
stItution.

The story OF the Signing Of the Con.
stitution.
Correspondence New Ysrk Herald.
Proud Philadelphia
And proud Philadelphia may well
be. Ca Saturday q century OF mos,
jus,ifiable pride will have been
reached and passed. From Saturday
on uutil Gabriel "toots hiS horn
and who can tell whether the dividing
powlu q eternity will not have
adopted The United sLs &c Oonslitu.
ton by then, and 30 allow Philadel.
nhis's pride TO continue forever r-the
"City OF Brotherly Love" can point
with pride 10 the document signed In
her Independence Hall on September
IL, 1887.
The colonies had remove d the yoke
OF the diotatorisl mother. And 10
century, later, all patriotic sons OF
EnRland are admiring that document
which the abloet convention knC wa 10
American history drew up. The ma.
joriy Of patriotic EOglishmen hops 10
initiate II and 10 we'd the British En-.
pife. Republics that have shaped
themselves into liberty since that
memorable day have taken their
points from the words written on
that precious parchment, which wss
the eignatuie to the death warren, OF
monafchical slavery, for Il effected
the Declaration Of Independence.
And how did II all come about7
Before the Declaration Of Indtpend.
enoe the colonies were chartered, pro.
vincial or proprietary. Their form OF
government depended entirely upon
the hesd under which they came.
They we're entirely independent oue
OF the other, but all depended 10 a
certain extsnt on the Crown. How
Lord North brought about the feyo.
luton snd how that reyol ulion Or.
helyed the old - we'll 90 the new
world, II 10 unnecessary ~ write for
American readers. The events that
Immediately preceded the drawing on
aud signlng Of tha Constitution will.
however. bear repeating At the pros.
ent time.
conBisrD. nut DsUNrrKp.
The revolution was q thing OF the
psst. Congrss wpe in session, but the
delegates were endowed With powers
suitable enough for war tlmCt, but
wholly unsuted 10 tie days Of peace.
Congress had full power TO run mp
bills, but had no means Of ralslng q
red cent 10 pay them with. II could
send ministers 10 every court In the
world and anthoIlEe these minlaters 10
make any treaties with foreign powers.
But IL had no power 10 raleo enough
10 pay even the ministers washing
bile. and eFch : ale could regard or
dlsregard tho treaties made jusl "a Il
suited u bes'.
In shori, the thirteen States had
iormsd themselves into a combir alton
without unity.
To make matters worse, the army
and navy, the very men who had
niruggled for and gained liberty, were
"kicEing" iT u cir pay. II locked AZ
a, II the men who had fought eide BY
aide Tor freedom would now fight one
against the other, and give the op.
pre.sor n chance Of riopplrg IN and re.
ducing them again 10 tlAyery. E,oh |
ss's n, " jealous aud susple lus Of the |
otter, aud ruin stared the country In |
tie face.
Your union ought 10 be considered |
as main prop Of your liberty" were
WathlDston'e farewell words nearly |
ten yesrs later But the slsies were |
not thinking then OF What "ought 10 |
be-" Each one was 90 fab, cared not |
. jot for The future, aud was willing 10 |
lot the Upion 20 10 the deuce"
TO THE RucuE.
Then II was that the true patriots
stepped In. Thouehtful men sav that |
the Union wonld inevitably fall 10 |
pieces, and not only fall 10 pieefr, but
fall a prey TO foreign intrigue, ii tbe
ststes were not brought 10 a sense Of
their duties 10 the Union. A com.
mittee was appointed by Congress 10
consider the state of Affairs. And this
was the humillatlng confession that
committee was forced 10 make:
THE statts have failed 10 come up
10 their acquisitions; the public en-.
bai raismsnts are daily increasing. Il
"a the Instant dlty Of Cor gresu 10 do.
clare most emphAtlcally that the crlsln
has arrived when the people oi the
Jailed blatea, by whose will and
whose ben,hl the Federal Govern.
ment has been Instituted, must creed.
Ily decide whether they will suppott
heir rank Rs nation by msintAlnlnR
he public faith nj home and abroad,
and by stme'y erefiion In establ blsblng
, general revenue, strengthen the con.
liberation, and no longer hssnd rot
inly ths existence oi the Uolon, bnt
lao the tTislerce n ihess greni and =
hyiuab.e rights for which thsy have
% arduoutly and honorAbly con.
onded."
Upon the report being presented 10
Congress Washington declared;
I'VE are either q united people or
W. arr not 10: II the fo'mer, iel az In
all mttteTs Of national concern act M
naiion which has a national char.
Icter 10 suppor. II the B,ates ind.
attempt 10 regulate CON.
nefce an abortion or q many beaded
monster will b. the Iasue. II wo con.
ider ouuelveg, or wlsh 10 be con.
idefod, by otheis M q united people,
yhy not adopt the messufeB which
lro characteristic Of II, and suppor.
he horror and dignity Of ore7 n vo
re alfaid 10 trust one another a. der
lnalhsd powers, there 10 an end Of
inlon."
vIRorSIA's IMPORTANT mova.
Al tho suggestion Of Jamee Mad.
on, OF Virginia, who wss niierwHrd to
,tcome Pre,idcnt, n commission had
'ssen appointed BY the Le' islalures Of
Maryland and Virginia 10 settle the
disputed question oil the navigation Of